Joy!

Take a moment to think back to the most joyous moment in your life so far. Maybe it was your wedding day. Or the first time you set eyes on the Eiffel tower in Paris. Or maybe it was your first real encounter with God. No matter what you consider your most joyous moment, I think we can all agree that being joyful is one of the best experiences of human existence! And looking around us, people certainly go to great lengths to find that joy.

1 Thessalonians 6:16 (WEBBE): ¹⁶Always rejoice.

In the first letter to the Thessalonians we find this exhortation to rejoice… always. Lets first look at the Greek word for joy – χαίρω (chairō). According to Thayer’s Greek Definitions this word means:

1) to rejoice, be glad
2) to rejoice exceedingly
3) to be well, thrive
4) in salutations, hail!
5) at the beginning of letters: to give one greeting, salute

That sounds pretty good! The difficult word in this verse is, however, the “always”. It is one of those absolutes that we find hard to actually believe. Paul cannot be serious, right? “Always”? Yes, “evermore” as the KJV translates it!

Lets continue reading to see whether there is a hint of how we are supposed to be able to do this.

1 Thessalonians 6:17-19 (WEBBE): ¹⁷Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you. ¹⁹Don’t quench the Spirit.

That joy flows naturally from a close relationship with God. Always praying and giving thanks – not just on Sunday mornings but always. And also not quenching the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for quench here is σβέννυμι (sbennumi), according to Thayer’s Greek Definitions:

1) to extinguish, quench
1a) of fire or things on fire
1a1) to be quenched, to go out
1b) metaphorically to quench, to suppress, stifle
1b1) of divine influence

The Holy Spirit lives in us all the time, we should just stop and listen sometimes! Instead of drowning out that quiet voice inside us with worldly noise.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (WEBBE): ¹⁶Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

Still not convinced that a relationship with God’s Spirit that lives in us has an direct connection to having joy?

Galatians 5:22 (WEBBE): ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

Romans 14:17 (WEBBE): ¹⁷for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (WEBBE): ⁶You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

The Holy Spirit brings joy!

The question that remains is how we can practically have that joy despite what happens in our lives. I believe that Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 gives us the direction that we need:

Matthew 7:7-11 (WEBBE): ⁷“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or who is there amongst you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

We should seek to have a relationship with God. Seek is an active word – we should pursue that relationship, not just sit back and let life drag us along. And if we seek God, He is true to His Word – we will find Him with all the good things that He intended for us, including perfect joy!